Former India football captain Sunil Chhetri confirmed that Virat Kohli’s fitness test was conducted in London.
Virat Kohli Focuses on ODI Glory Amid Fitness Test Controversy
Virat Kohli may have retired from Tests and T20Is, but his competitive fire remains undiminished. The former India captain is now focused on ODIs, aiming to finish his career on a high by winning the 2027 World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Recently, the 36-year-old found himself at the center of controversy after a Dainik Jagran report claimed that his fitness test was conducted in London while the rest of the centrally-contracted players traveled to Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence for the same assessment.
Former India football captain Sunil Chhetri appeared to confirm the report, noting that Virat Kohli was “sending” his test scores from London.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced criticism for giving Kohli special privileges, prompting questions about consistency. Players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Siraj all traveled to Bengaluru for their Yo-Yo tests.
Kohli retired from Tests earlier this year and bid farewell to T20Is last year after winning the World Cup. Despite his break from competitive cricket following the IPL, he remains one of India’s best ODI batters, showcasing his brilliance during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which India won under Rohit Sharma by defeating New Zealand in the final. He has since resumed rigorous training in London, including regular net sessions.
“A few days back, he (Kohli) was sending me his scores of one of the tests he was doing. It is so addictive, and it is so good to know these kinds of people. On your bad days when you feel a bit lethargic, you see them and think, ‘let’s go’. When you are at the top, everyone wants to be a Virat Kohli or Ronaldo, and for these two to keep their place is unbelievable,” Chhetri said on the Desi Premier League Podcast.
Kohli’s future
A recent Dainik Jagran report suggested that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could play their last ODI series against Australia in October. The report also mentioned that the duo might be asked to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy if they aim to feature in the 2027 World Cup.
Former India football captain Sunil Chhetri, who shares a strong bond with Kohli, compared the batter’s relentless drive to that of Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Kohli is also a well-known admirer of Ronaldo and has often spoken about his respect for the Al-Nassr star.
“I don’t know Ronaldo personally. I have watched him, studied him. I know Virat. The one common thing about these two is that they are just not happy with what they have already achieved. I tried in my own way to inculcate the same thing because once you start getting into that circle where you start thinking about what you have done, good or bad, then you are not on the same track that you want to be,” Chhetri said.
Kohli’s next international assignment is the three-match ODI series against Australia, though he may also travel to India beforehand to take part in the India A series versus Australia A.
